Patents by Inventor Jens Fortmann

Jens Fortmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8373291
    Abstract: A wind park and operating method thereof. The wind park includes at least two wind energy systems each comprising a generator and converter for generating electrical energy and a control system, a park master designed for active and idle power control that transmits a control signal for idle power via a communications network to the wind energy systems, and a connection network feeding generated electrical energy into a grid. The wind energy system can include an idle power regulator and a supplementary regulator, the control signals of each of which are linked together. Thus, a combination of idle power and voltage regulation is achieved that combines the advantages of each. Accordingly, the wind park can have high dynamic and stability notwithstanding erratic changes in the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jorg Zeumer, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Jens Fortmann
  • Patent number: 8283803
    Abstract: A wind farm in which electrical power produced in the wind farm is transported via a wind-farm-internal network to a substation. Upon being transferred to an external network, the electrical power is transformed to a voltage which is higher by a selectable step-up ratio than the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network. The electrical load level on a wind energy installation in the wind farm is determined, and the step-up ratio is adjusted as a function of the electrical load level. Accordingly, it is possible to influence the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network such that the wind energy installations are subject to a lower electrical load level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: RePower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Friedrich Koch
  • Patent number: 8203318
    Abstract: An electricity generating installation is connected to an electricity distribution network and feeds electrical power into the network via a converter. After detecting a network fault, a stabilization regulator in the installation is activated. The stabilization regulator regulates the voltage of the electrical power as a function of a fed-back voltage signal and has a step-function response that rises over time. After a predetermined time period has elapsed since the activation of the stabilization regulator, the reactive current feed is increased beyond a limit which is provided for normal operation if the network has not stabilized. Accordingly, a converter-fed electricity generating installation, such as a wind energy installation, can help stabilize an electricity distribution network after a network fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Patent number: 7989974
    Abstract: A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Jens Altemark, Jörg Zeumer
  • Publication number: 20110099908
    Abstract: A closure device for an image capture facility, such as a webcam or the like, integrated in a piece of equipment, includes at least one frame which is able to be fastened on the surface of the piece of equipment, and at least one closure, held so as to be adjustably movable on the frame via a mounting, which is able to be brought into a closed position covering the image capture facility or into an open position exposing the image capture facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Bornbex Handels-und Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20110101690
    Abstract: A wind farm in which electrical power produced in the wind farm is transported via a wind-farm-internal network to a substation. Upon being transferred to an external network, the electrical power is transformed to a voltage which is higher by a selectable step-up ratio than the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network. The electrical load level on a wind energy installation in the wind farm is determined, and the step-up ratio is adjusted as a function of the electrical load level. Accordingly, it is possible to influence the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network such that the wind energy installations are subject to a lower electrical load level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Friedrich Koch
  • Publication number: 20100327584
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to a rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator for feeding electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling currents emitted from at least one of the inverters to at least one of the generator and the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in electrical voltage present in at least one of emitted real currents and emitted reactive currents at one of the inverters, determining whether the detected change corresponds to a predetermined change, and changing nominal values of at least one of real currents to be emitted and reactive currents to be emitted from the other inverter if the detected change corresponds to the predetermined change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20100320762
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to the rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator in order to feed electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling current output from at least one of the inverters to the doubly-fed asynchronous generator and/or to the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in output real power, determining whether the detected change satisfies a predefined condition, and changing a nominal value of reactive power to be output in an opposite sense to a change in real power at the grid-side inverter and in a same sense as the generator-side inverter when the predefined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Heinz-Hermann Letas, Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20100312409
    Abstract: A wind park includes at least two wind energy systems each comprising a generator and converter for generating electrical energy and a control system, a park master designed for active and idle power control that transmits a control signal for idle power via a communications network to the wind energy systems, and a connection network feeding generated electrical energy into a grid. The wind energy system can include an idle power regulator and a supplementary regulator, the control signals of each of which are linked together. Thus, a combination of idle power and voltage regulation is achieved that combines the advantages of each. Accordingly, the wind park can have high dynamic and stability notwithstanding erratic changes in the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jorg Zeumer, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20100276930
    Abstract: A network disturbance module for a control device of a wind energy installation having a generator driven by a wind rotor and a converter for producing electrical power fed into a network. The module includes a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the network, a detector configured to identify a network disturbance and output a switching signal, and a reference generator configured to produce a substitute reference vector for the converter based on the at least one electrical parameter. The module also includes a fault management unit comprising a fault classifier, the unit being configured to interact with the measurement device, detector, and reference generator such that, in the event of an undervoltage during island operation, a quick-action frequency regulator is activated. The regulator acts on the converter to vary a real-power feed P in the event of a discrepancy in a network frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20100207463
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a wind power plant (15-19) with a rotor-driven (25-29) electric generator (30) for delivering electric power to an electric grid (31) which provides a grid voltage in which, when excess voltage prevails in the grid (31), idle power from the wind power plant (15-19) is fed to the grid (31) in order to lower the voltage. A wind power plant is provided (15-19) with a rotor-driven electric generator (30) for delivering electric power to an electric grid (31) in which when excess voltage prevails in the grid idle power from the wind power plant (15-19) is fed to the grid (31) in order to lower the voltage. Monitoring occurs to determine whether within a predeterminable time a voltage was lowered to a predeterminable reference value and/or an idle current is delivered which is greater than or equal to a predeterminable idle current reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Publication number: 20100176770
    Abstract: An electricity generating installation is connected to an electricity distribution network and feeds electrical power into the network via a converter. After detecting a network fault, a stabilization regulator in the installation is activated. The stabilization regulator regulates the voltage of the electrical power as a function of a fed-back voltage signal and has a step-function response that rises over time. After a predetermined time period has elapsed since the activation of the stabilization regulator, the reactive current feed is increased beyond a limit which is provided for normal operation if the network has not stabilized. Accordingly, a converter-fed electricity generating installation, such as a wind energy installation, can help stabilize an electricity distribution network after a network fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Patent number: 7741728
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor and a generator driven by, the rotor generates electrical power and delivers it to a power system. A control unit controlling the operation of the plant includes a reactive-power control module. The control unit includes also a determining device for a safe minimum active power. Furthermore, and a limiting device for the reactive-power control module, wherein the reactive power is limited to such a measure that the safe minimum active power is still available, taking into consideration the available power. As a result, the total current generated, apart from the active current required for the safe operation of the plant, can be fed into the power system as reactive current as backup in the case of a voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Publication number: 20100052322
    Abstract: A wind energy installation can include a generator which is driven by a rotor and generates electrical power in a multiphase manner for feeding into a network, a converter which is connected to the generator and to the network, and a control system which interacts with the converter and includes a negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can include a phase control module configured to determine an electrical variable of the negative sequence system according to the phase. Accordingly, an available current can be provided according to the operating situation for active power or idle power in the negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can thus help stabilize the network in the event of asymmetrical network conditions. Also, this relates to a correspondingly equipped wind park and an operating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Publication number: 20100001527
    Abstract: A system for a wind energy installation. The wind energy installation feeds electrical power into a power supply system. A phase control device can include a power supply system fault detector, a phase angle detector, and a signal processing module. When a power supply system fault is detected, a phase error signal can be determined. A preset angle signal can be determined based on the phase error signal. The preset angle signal can be provided to a converter which can emit electrical power having a phase angle corresponding to the preset angle signal into the power supply system. Accordingly, an undesirable sudden surge in power output resulting from a phase change occurring at the end of the power supply system disturbance can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 7606638
    Abstract: A windpark includes at least two wind energy installations, each of which installations comprises a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor and a control device, and which are connected via connecting lines to a main line. The windpark also includes a linking point which connects the main line to a power transmission network, a parkmaster which is configured for power factor control and has communication lines for transmission of control signals to the wind energy installations, and a power-factor control section including a distributed regulator having a higher-level regulator located at the parkmaster which is configured to determine a nominal voltage in order to set a global power coefficient for the power which is emitted to the power transmission network and to emit the nominal voltage as a signal via the communication lines and lower-level regulators at the wind energy installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 7528496
    Abstract: A method for operating at least one wind turbine with a rotor and an electric generator coupled to the rotor for delivering electrical power into an energy distribution system with the aid of a control device ensures that the wind turbine operates within its operating range. The wind turbine is controlled in response to the change of a system operating parameter and for a period of time, in such a manner that a higher power is fed into the system than belongs to the operating range of the steady-state operation. The same conditions also apply to a method for providing control power or primary control power for an electric energy generator and distributor system to which a multiplicity of power stations including wind turbines is connected, and to a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20080265577
    Abstract: A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Jens Altemark, Jorg Zeumer
  • Publication number: 20080252076
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine with a rotor, a generator driven by it, which generates electrical power and delivers it to a power system, and a control unit which controls the operation of the plant and has a reactive-power control module. According to the invention, it is provided that the control unit has a determining device for a safe minimum active power. Furthermore, it comprises a limiting device for the reactive-power control module, in such a manner that the reactive power is limited to such a measure that the safe minimum active power is still available, taking into consideration the available apparent power. As a result, the total current generated, apart from the active current required for the safe operation of the plant, can be fed into the power system as reactive current as backup in the case of a voltage drop. The invention is also related to a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Publication number: 20080073912
    Abstract: A windpark includes at least two wind energy installations, each of which installations comprises a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor and a control device, and which are connected via connecting lines to a main line. The windpark also includes a linking point which connects the main line to a power transmission network, a parkmaster which is configured for power factor control and has communication lines for transmission of control signals to the wind energy installations, and a power-factor control section including a distributed regulator having a higher-level regulator located at the parkmaster which is configured to determine a nominal voltage in order to set a global power coefficient for the power which is emitted to the power transmission network and to emit the global power coefficient as a signal via the communication lines and lower-level regulators at the wind energy installations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas